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Artist Notes:
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This image conveys good wishes for the Chanukkah holiday to friends & family at a distance. In Hebrew, "Chanukkah" means "dedication." It commemorates the re-dedication of the holy Temple in Jerusalem following the Jewish victory over the the invasion of the Syrian-Greeks in 165 B.C.E. Jerusalem is visible behind an old, gnarled tree.The dreydls or tops are carved with four initials for the Hebrew words 'nes, gadol, hayah, sham' (a great miracle happened here) & used in a traditional child's game with the golden coins as playing pieces. Dreydls have both religious & entertainment significance. During the time of the Roman Empire, Jewish children were forbidden to study Torah. So they would bring their dreydls out among the trees (where they would hide their study scrolls), not to play, but to study. If someone approached them, suspecting a study session in progress, the children would use their dreydls as decoys, giving the impression that they were merely playing a childrens' game.
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